’Uthman ibn ’Affan R was six years younger than the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and was born six years after the famous incident of the destruction of the army of Abrahah al Ashram who had marched to Makkah to destroy the Ka’bah. That event is recorded by the Holy Qur-an in its 105^th Surah (Chapter) named Surah (Chapter) Al-Fil (The Elephant).

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R was one of the early Muslims. He was a friend of Abu Bakr R and he converted to Islam because of his friend’s efforts.

He belonged to the powerful and influential Banu (Family of) Umayyah of the Quraysh tribe of Makkah. Banu (Family of) Umayyah were the flag bearer of the Quraysh tribe in battles. It was a special honor.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S also belonged to the Quraysh tribe and he had a common ancestor with ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R in the fifth generation with ‘Abd Manaf.

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R’s Kunniyah (agnomen) was Abu ‘Amr and Abu ‘Abdullah. And according to another report, it was Abu Layla.

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R was among the very few Quraysh who had learnt reading and writing before the advent of Islam. In the beginning, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S had appointed him as his secretary and was assigned the task of writing the Wahi (Messages from Allah).

Even in the days of Jahilliyah (Ignorance), when there were no definitions for morality in most of the Arabian Peninsula, ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R had a flawless character. He was free from all kinds of evils of the days of ignorance. He was an extremely shy and modest person. According to a report of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar R, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S regarded him as "the most modest person of the community." Ibn Hajar has recorded a number of traditions on this subject.

Like most of the honorable Quraysh, ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R, too, adopted the profession of trading. He got enormous success in trade due to his honesty and integrity and was regarded as one of the most successful businessmen of Makkah. As a result, he was called "Ghani" meaning "rich and contended."

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R is among the ‘Ashrah Mubashshrah (Ten Sahabah, who were blessed with the news of Paradise in their lives).

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R had strong friendly relations with Abu Bakr R, upon whose persuasions he accepted Islam. Unlike other rich people of Makkah, he was among the first few as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun (Early Muslims). According to his own report, he was the fourth male to accept Islam after Abu Bakr R, ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib R, and Zayd ibn Harithah R. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid R, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, was the first person to accept Islam.

Despite being an honorable member of his tribe, ‘Uthman faced severe hardships for his conversion. His uncle, Hakim ibn Al ‘As, used to severely torture him for abandoning their religion, but ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R remained steadfast on Islam.

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S was so pleased with him that he married his daughter, Ruqqaiyyah R to him. ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R and Ruqqaiyyah R were an ideal couple.

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R and Ruqqaiyyah R were among the first group of migrants who migrated to Habash (Ethiopia) with the permission of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S to save themselves from the persecution of the Quraysh. There, Ruqqaiyyah R bore him a son, ‘Abdullah ibn ’Uthman R.

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R also participated in the second migration to Madinah. There, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S created a unique and innovative Muwakh-khah (Brotherhood) to establish the Muhajirun (Migrant Muslims from Makkah) who had left everything behind when they migrated to Madinah. ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R was made him the brother of Aws ibn Thabit R, the brother of Hassan ibn Thabit al Ansari R.

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R was not only a rich man, but was a very charitable and generous person. He donated most of his wealth in the propagation of Islam and Islamic wars. Once, there was a severe shortage of drinking water in Madinah, ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R bought a well from a Jew, and endowed it for Muslims. Upon this charitable act of ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S gave him the news of Paradise. Later on, he got a number of wells dug and endowed it for the community.

To enlarge the boundary of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S’s mosque, ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R bought a piece of land, adjacent to the mosque and included it into the boundary of the mosque.

At the time of the battle of Tabuk, ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R generously donated his wealth. He gave 1000 camels, 70 horses and 1000 Dinars to the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S was overwhelmed with the generosity of ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R, and said: "Whatever ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R does afterward, it will not harm him."

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R participated in all the battles with the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S except the Battle of Badr. During the Battle of Badr, his wife Ruqqaiyyah R, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S was ill. Therefore, the Messenger exempted him from participation in the Battle of Badr, and ensured him that he would get all the rewards and the war trophies like the participants of Badr. This is the reason why the name of ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R is mentioned in the participants of Badr as recorded in Sahih Bukhari.

Ruqqaiyyah R died on the day when Muslims recorded their convincing victory over the Quraysh in their first ever battle at Badr. This battle was fought on the 17^th day of Ramadan of the year 2H (Hijrah) (623 CE).

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S appointed ‘Uthman as his representative in Madinah during the battles of Dhat ur Riqa’ and Bani Ghatfan.

After Ruqqaiyyah R’s death, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S married ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R with his other daughter, Umm Kulthum R. This marriage was according to the decree of God. When Umm Kulthum R died in 9H (Hijrah) (630 CE), the Messenger said, "If I had any other daughter, I would have married her with ‘Uthman." Ibn Athir has quoted a report from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib that the Messenger said, " If I had forty daughters, I would have married with ‘Uthman, one after the other." According to another report by ‘Ali, ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R was known as Dhun Nurayn (Two Eyes) the husband of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S’s two daughters.

One of the most significant incidents of ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R’s life is when the Messenger sent him as his personal envoy to Makkah for negotiations. In 6^th Hijri, Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S resolved to visit Makkah for ‘Umrah (Minor Pilgrimage) with 1400 of his Sahabah (Companions). When the Quraysh of Makkah learnt about it, they stopped the caravan of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S at a place called Hudaibiyah. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S appointed ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R as his envoy to negotiate with the Pagans of Makkah. When ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R went to Makkah for negotiation, a rumor spread in the Muslim camp that ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R had been killed by the Quraysh of Makkah. The news of ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R’s murder made everyone upset, including the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S, decided to take revenge of ’Uthman ibn ’Affan R’s blood. The Messenger sat under the shade of a tree, and took Bay’ah (Pledge of Allegiance) from all the companions present there. This incident is known as Bay’at ur Ridwan in the history of Islam.

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R was the special advisor to the first Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims, Abu Bakr R. He was also entrusted with judicial and secretarial responsibilities. He was a prominent member of the Shura (Consultative Committee).

’Uthman ibn ’Affan R had a prominent place among the Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad S). Nafi’ R has reported from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar R that they used to call him in the following sequence, Abu Bakr R, ‘Umar R and ‘Uthman R, during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S.

When the sword of Abu Lu" Lu" fatally injured the second Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims, ‘Umar bin Khattab R; people assembled before him to ascertain who would succeed him. ‘Umar bin Khattab R said, " If Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn Jarrah R was alive, I would have appointed him as my successor." Later on he constituted a six members Shura (Consultative Committee) consisting of ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib R, ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R, Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah R, Zubayr ibn Al Awwam R, Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqas R and ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf R. He appointed his son, ‘Abdullah R, as an arbitrator, but forbade him to participate as a candidate for the Khilafah (Caliphate).

When ‘Umar bin Khattab R achieved Shahadah (Martyrdom), these people assembled at the house of Miswar ibn Makhramah R. ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf R suggested that the matter should be confined among three persons. Thus Zubayr ibn Al Awwam R proposed in favor of ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib R, Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah R supported ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R, and Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqas R favored ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf R. Later on ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf R also withdrew. Only two candidates were left in the fray - ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib R and ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R. ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf R said to them, "Leave this matter to me." Both candidates agreed. ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf R continued consultations with the people for three days. When he became sure that the majority favored ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R, he came to the mosque and after a brief speech, in which he announced the name of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R as the third Khalifah (Caliph). Soon after, ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib R took Bay’ah (Pledge of Allegiance) to him and then everyone else followed.

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R became Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims on the third day from the Shahadah (Martyrdom) of ‘Umar bin Khattab R in Muharram in 24 Hijrah coinciding with November 644 CE.

While commenting on the Bay’ah (Pledge of Allegiance) of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R, ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud R said, "We paid allegiance to the best person among us."

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R remained Khalifah (Caliph) of Muslims for 12 years. During this period, Islam flourished and its boundaries expanded from Indus (Sindh) to Spain. Valiant commanders of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R, namely, Walid ibn ‘Uqbah R, Sa’id ibn al ‘Aas R, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Aamir R, ‘Abdullah ibn Sa’d ibn Abi Sarh R and Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan R scored remarkable victories under his dynamic leadership.

There were two kinds of victories in the period of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R: First, those areas, which had already been defeated during the reign of ‘Umar ibn Khattab R but had revolted at the instance of Persian and Roman empires. They were brought back into the folds of Islam. Alexandria revolted in 25^th Hijrah, but ‘Amr ibn ‘As R defeated Romans. In the same year, Armeniah and Azarbiajan revolted, but they were humbled by Walid ibn ‘Uqbah and Sulayman ibn Rabie Bahali. And when Romans tried to invade Syria, Asia Kochak and Antakia; Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan R halted their advance.

Secondly, those areas which were defeated in the time of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R. These included, Libya, Algiers, Morocco in African continent, Khurasan, Tabaristan, Nishapour, Kabul etc. Muslim fought almost fifty naval wars in this period, and their naval capacity tremendously increased. Muslims also set their feet at the coast of Gujarat in this period

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R expanded the boundaries of al-Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque) and the Masjid Nabi (Mosque of the Messenger S).

In the 26^th Hijrah, he expanded the boundary of al-Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque). He purchased all the adjacent houses and included them in al-Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred Mosque). In 29^th Hijrah, he expanded and renovated the Masjid Nabi (Mosque of the Messenger S). It took 10 months in the renovation. The parameter of the Masjid Nabi (Mosque of the Messenger S) was 140 x 120 yards in the time of ‘Umar ibn Khattab R. It was expanded to 160 x 150 yards in the time of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R.

The biggest task of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R’s period was the publication of the standardized Qur-an. ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R obtained the copy of the Qur-an that was in the custody of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S’s wife Hafsah R. This copy of the Qur-an was compiled by Abu Bakr R, soon after the demise of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S. Abu Bakr R and ‘Umar ibn Khattab R, for some reason, did not publish it during their Khilafah (Caliphate). ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R made several copies out of it and dispatched them to Makkah, Madinah, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Basrah and Kufah with instructions that it should be regarded as a standard copy of the Qur-an. Four of those copies are still preserved, one is in the Masjid Nabi (Mosque of the Messenger S) in Madinah, and the other copies are in the museums of Istanbul, Syria and Moscow.

The first six years of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R’s period were quite peaceful. It brought fame, victory wealth and prosperity in the Islamic world. Ancient rivalry between Banu Hashim and Banu Ummayyah, Arab and Iranian rivalry, Jews and Magian conspiracies against Islam still simmerrd in his Khilafah (Caliphate). Because of the tenderheartedness of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R, it could not be curbed effectively.

There were mainly two objections about ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R’s administration: First, that he generously helped his relatives financially. And secondly, he awarded high posts to his friends and kinsmen. But these things were not so which could have led to a bloody revolt. In fact, some external forces that had penetrated in Islamic society with the sole intention of harming the Islamic fabric were working behind the scene to split the unity of Islam.

Revolt against ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R arose from Kufah, Basrah, and Egypt. But the main source of revolt was ‘Abdullah Ibn Saba, a Yemenite Jew, who converted to Islam, and thereafter carried out a campaign to disintegrate Islam from within. In the guise of preaching love for the family of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S (Ahl ul-Bayt), he indicted the Khulafa" (Caliphs), and wanted the Muslims to transfer the Khilafah (Caliphate) to the family of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S. He tried to bring various Jewish practices in Islam, like second coming of the Messenger and occultation etc. As a result, he was expelled from Basrah, Kufah and Damascus. Finally, he settled in Egypt where he could get some following.

By the year 642 AD, the situation became critical. ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R dispatched his emissaries to Basrah, Kufah and Damascus to assess the situation. They reported that the complaints were based on frivolous charges. However, the envoy that was sent to Misr (Egypt) won over by the rebels. He brought the following complaints:

That ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R removed some of the distinguished Companions from high offices, and appointed inexperienced young men from the Ummayyah tribe in their places.

Distinguished companions, like Abu Dhar Ghifari R, ‘Ammar ibn Yasir R and ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud R were humiliated.

Actions were slow to come or did not materialize in some cases, with regard to the complaints made against the Ummayyah functionaries.

The enforcement of Hudud (Islamic punishment) was unduly delayed at many occasions.

Although some of these complaints were based on misunderstanding, nevertheless, ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R redressed some of them, like, ‘Abdullah ibn Sa’d and Marwan ibn al Hakim refunded the amount that had been allowed to them. However, some complaints were genuine, and if the matter had been discussed in a cool atmosphere, these would have also been redressed. But unfortunately things deteriorated. Rebels from all parts swarmed in Madinah, and besieged the house of ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R. The rebels martyred ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R while he was reciting the Holy Qur-an.

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan R was 80 years old when he was martyred on 17^th June 656 AD. His Khilafah (Caliphate) lasted for 12 years, the longest among the rightly guided Khulafa" (Caliphs). Abu Bakr R’s reign lasted for two years. ‘Umar ibn Khattab R reigned for 10 years and ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib R was Khalifah (Caliph) only for five years.